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The state electorate, which decides so many important decisions on the budget and taxation, is still just like the worst boyfriend or girlfriend you ever had: she's mad at you all the time, but she can't tell you what she wants you to do differently.

The reason that state voters can't agree on a path is not just that they know so little about how the state budget and tax system. No, it's worse than that. State voters know things that aren't so. As the poll shows:

- A majority of adults (54 percent) in the survey THINK they have some or a lot of knowledge about taxes and spending in California.

BUT:

-when given a list of the top four state spending categories (K-12 education; health and human services, higher education, and prisons), only 16 percent (and 22 percent of likely voters) could name K-12 education as the top spending item in the state budget. It's not even close. 41 percent of likely voters thought the number one item was prisons, which is fourth-most.

Similarly on taxes, only 33 percent of likely voters knew that the personal income tax is the top source of state revenues. And just 9 percent of likely voters had the right answer to both questions (K-12 education as top spending item and income tax as top source of revenues).

This is a disaster for a state that entrusts considerable power over budget and tax matters via ballot measures and initiatives. There is literally no hope for substantive reform in the state until voters understand the basics of taxation and budgeting.

Either that, or California needs about 90 percent of its voters to stop voting.